Signal



Feb. 27, 1923 1,447,098. G. F. MESSER.

SIGNAL. Fl-LED AUG, 5, 1923 4 SHEETSSHEET l- WITNESSES INVENTOR ATTOR/VEYS G Fflessef, M, W 95 Feb. 27, 1923. Y 1,447,098.

- (5. 5. MESSER.

SIGNAL.

FILED AUG-6,1920 I 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

, ATTORNEYS WITNESSES 6. F. MESSER.

Feb. 27, 1923.

SIGNAL.

FILED AUG-6,1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

' mus/won GLZT 2561:1992;

.4 TTORNE Y 8 Patented Feb. 27, 1923.

GEORGE FREDERICK MESSER, OF ABERDEEN, WASHINGTON.

SIGNAL.

Application filed August 6, 1920. Serial No. 401,722.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE FREDERICK MEs'sEn, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Aberdeen, in the county of Grays Harbor andState of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Signals, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates in general to signals, and moreparticularly to an improved vehicle signal especially adapted for usewith automobiles or the like.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved signal of thischaracter which is adapted to be mounted upon the automobile or the likeand which when so mounted will serve to transmit intelligence to theoperators of adjacent vehicles or to other persons interested concerningchanges in the direction or rate of motion of the automobile which havebeen initiated or about to be initiated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a signal of this characterwhich is automatic in its operation and does not detract the at-tentionof the automobile driver from his duties as operator of the car.

Another object is to provide a signal of this character which iseffective and efficient in the night as well as in the day and which isof simple and durable construe .tion reliable in operation, attractivein appearance, and easy and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention reside in certain novelfeatures of construction, combination and arrangement of parts whichwill be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out inthe appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawingsforming part of this specification, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the invention mounted on anautomobile;

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the signal proper;

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view thereof; a

Figure at is a transverse sectional view on line of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a transverse section on line 5-5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a sectional view on line 6-6 of Figure 1; v

Figure '7 is a detail perspective view of one of the sections comprisingthe reel;-

Figure 8 is a detail view of the extensible elements mounted upon thespool; and

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic view of the circuits.

Referring to the drawings it will be seen that the invention is adaptedto be mounted upon a vehicle such as an automobile and preferably ismounted upon the rear of the vehicle.

The signal comprises a cylindrical casing 10 having an open front 11covered by a clear glass plate 12 which is held in place by a retainingring 13. The walls of the cylindrical casing are provided with two lightopenings covered by a clear isingglass 15. The light openings 15 serveto illuminate the license plate- 16 as will be hereinafter more fullydescribed. Both the cylindrical casing 10 and the license plate 16 aremounted upon the rear mud guard or other suitable means by means of abracket-17.

A signalling plate 18 is arranged within the casing and preferably isconstructed of sheet metal and has its face 19 which is visible throughthe glass 12 painted white. The signalling platebears suitablesignalling indicia 20 which is cut out from the plate and preferablyconsists of the .words Turn and Stop arranged at the upper andlower'portions of the plate, as clearly shown in Figure 2. Suitablefastening means 21 serve to secure the signalling plate 18 in positionin the casing. A circular plate 22 of fiber is secured, as at 23, to theinnerwall of the casing at a suitable distance to therear of thesignalling p1ate18. The face 24: of the plate 22 adjacent the signallingplate is painted white so that when the plate 22 constitutes thebackground for the signalling plate as it normally does it camouflagesthe signalling indicia as there is no contrast afforded as between thewhite outline words) .Turn and Stop and the white background therefor. i

A movable curtain 25 is provided for the word Turn ofthe signallingindicia: and a movable curtain 26 is provided for the word Stop. Asclearly shown in Figure 3, these curtains are arranged between theplates 18 and 22. The faces 25 and 26 of the plates 25 and 26 arepainted black so as to be in direct contrast with the white outlinedletters of the signalling indiciaQ The curtains 25 and 2-6 are normallydisposed .30 formed in the plates 22 and 18.

above and out of alinement with the words Turn andStopfrespectively, andfor this purpose the plates are each provided W1th guides 25 and 26*,respectively, which respectively engage guide rods 25 and 26" to therebyconstrain the curtains to vertical movement. The plates are influencedto and normally maintained in the highest position on the guide rods andout of alinement with the indicia by means of retractile coil springs 25and 26, respectively.

Means are provided for automatically and independently moving either thecurtain 25 or the curtain 26 to behind its associated signalling indiciaso as to afford the contrast necessary to clearly delineate the wordscomprising the indicia.

The means for moving the curtain 25 comprises a rotary spindle 27 ofmetallic construction suitably journaled in the casing 10- by means of abearing 28 secured to the rear wall of the casing and bearings 29 andThe rotatable spindle carries a radial arm 31 provided with an arcuateslot 32. A link 33, has one end pivoted, as at 34:, to the curtain 25and carries a pin 35 at its opposite end which is slidably arranged inthe arcuate slot 32 of the radial arm 31. It is thus seen that thespindle is rotated either to the right or to the left the curtain 25 isdrawn downwardly to the position shown in dotted lines in whichposit-ion it is arranged behind the word Turn and affords the propercontrast to clearly delineate the word. The automatic means provided forrotating the spindle will be hereinafter fully described.

The means for moving the curtain 26 to position behind the word Stopcomprises a flexible connecting element such as a steel wire 37 which issecured to the lower portion or the plate and then extends through thecasing and through a suitable conduit 38 to a swinging lever 39. Theswinging lever 39 is connectedby means of a steel wire 40 with the brakelever B of the vehicle. It is thus obvious that when the brake lever isactuated to stop the car the curtain 2 6 is operated so as to afford acontrasting background for and thereby delineate the word Stop of thesignal and advise the operators of succeeding vehicles of the intendedchange.

A semaphore 4-1 preferably in the form of an arrow is fixed to thespindle adjacent its outer end, and serves to indicate the in tendedchange of direction of the car by means of the direction in which itpoints. It, for instance, indicates an intended change in a direction tothe rght when swung to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 2.-When in normal position it partially covers the word Turn and aids inrendering the same non-signallii'ig or inoperative. The semaphore thusco-operates with the upper signal indicia, to wit: the word T urn, toadvise the operator of the succeeding vehicle o1 the precise change ofdirection contemplated.

Insulated stops L are carried by the plate 522 as shown in Figure a, andlimit the movement of the semaphore toright or left signalling position.

Automatic means is provided for rotating the spindle 27 to render activeor signalling the semaphore and the indicia Turn. This means is underthe control of the steering mechanism S of the vehicle. For this purposethe steering post .9 of the steering mechanism. is provided with adouble reel 42 which consists of two sections 43, as shown in Figures 6and 7, which are bolted together, as at 44, and thus clamped upon thesteering post. A spool 45 is carried by the rotatable spindle andpreferably is formed integral therewith. The spool 45 and the doublereel 43 are connected by two flexible connecting elements 45 and 46which have their ends oppositely wound upon the double reel and thespool. The connecting elements 45 and l6 are of composite constructionconsisting in the main of steel wire but having the ends which encirclethe double reel formed of tapes. as indicated at se and 41:6 while theends which encircle the double spool consist of extensible coil springs45* and 46". The extensible coil springs4l5 and 46 take up the excessmotion of the steering post as it is only necessary that sutlicientmotion be transmitted from the steering post to the rotating spool tomove the spindle through a one-fourth revolution.

A tail light 47 is carried by the end of the spindle 27, a suitablesocket being formed in the spindle to receive the same. A lens 48 of redglass is carried by a. bracket 4-9 arranged upon the spindle to completethe tail light.

An incandescent lamp 50 is carried by the head of the arrow constitutingthe semaphore and is adapted to be energized only when the semaphore isin signalling position and when the tail light is energized.

Means is provided for energizing and controlling the tail light asdesired and for automatically energizing and controlling the semaphorelight when the tail light is in operation. This means includes a sourceof current. such as a battery 51., one terminal of which is grounded. asat 52. and the other terminal of which leads by a conductor 53 to thetail light 51-. Thetail light 5% is grounded, as at 55, preferablythrough the spindle and metallic casing. The conductor 53 extends inpart through the rotating spindle 2-7 but is insulated therefrom. Forthis purpose its sections are provided with an electrical couplingelement 53, as shown in Figure 3, which is spring pressed and permitsthe sections of the conductor to a liances partake of relative rotarymotion without impairing the electrical properties of the con ductor.One of the sections of the con-- ductor 53 embodies a switch 56. It isobvious that when the switch 56 is closed the current flows from thebattery through the switch 56, the sections of the conductor 53, thecoupling element 53, the tail light 5% and then through the ground 55back to the battery.

The incandescent lamp of the semaphore is, when the switch 56 is closed,always adapted to be energized whenever the semaphore is moved fromnon-signalling position to signalling position, either to the rightor tothe left. F or this purpose, one of the sections of the conductor 53 isconnected by a conductor 57 with the radial contact finger 58 which iscarried by and insulated from the rotating spindle 53. The outer end ofthe contact finger 58 bears against an arcuate contact strip 59 carriedupon the fiber plate so as to be insulated thereby. The opposite ends ofthe contact strip are connected by conductors 60 with contact segments61 and 62 disposed respectively on the right and left hand side of therotating spindle. A second contact finger63 is carried by and insulatedfrom the rotary spindle and is adapted to engage with either of the 0ontact segments 61 and 62 accordingly as the vehicle is turned to theright or to the left. The second contact finger 63 is connected by aconductor 64 with the incandescent lamp 50 carried by the semaphore. Theconductor 64 is insulated from the semaphore and the other terminal ofthe lamp is grounded through the semaphore, as indicated at 55. lVhenthe vehicle is turned the rotating spindle which is under the control ofthe steering mechanism thereof is also turned and carries with it thecontact fingers 5S and 63 accordingly as the vehicle is turned to theright or left the contact finger 63 engages with the contact segments 61or 62 while the contact finger 58 at all times engages with some portionof the contact strip 59. It is obvious that when the contact finger 63is engaged with either of the contact segments 61 or 62 the currentflows from the battery 51 through the conductor 53, conductor 57,contact finger 58, contact strip 59, conductor 60, contact segment 61 or62 as the case may be, second contact finger 63, conductor 64:,semaphore lamp 50 and ground 55 back to the battery. The contactfingers, contact strip and contact segments thus constitute a. circuitcontroller for the extensible elements of the semaphore.

In operation it will be seen that as the driver of the automobile turnsthe steering wheel, the rotary spindle is turned and throws thesemaphore in a corresponding direction. The steering mechanism alsolowers the curtain 25 to alinement with the signalling indicia Turn andthus afltord the contrasting background for the same to render it activeor slgnalling.

If it is desired to illuminate the semaphore and to utilize the taillight as it is at night it is only necessary to close the switch 56. Thetail light is then constantly illuminat-ed and the semaphore lamp willautomatically light as frequently as changes in the direction of motionof the vehicle is made.

lVhen the vehicle is-stopped it'is always necessary for the operator todepress the brake pedal and when he does it the lower curtain is pulleddown to behind the indicia Stop thus affording the desired contrast torender this indicia signalling.

At night the word Stop as well as the word Turn and the entire sign areais illuminated in the main from'thetail lamp, the lateral rays fromwhich afford this illumination as they also afford the illumination forthe license plate by virtue of their projection through the openings 15of the casing. This illumination is supplemented by the incandescentlamp of the semaphore when the vehicle is turned in any direction.

I claim:

1. In a vehicle signal of the character described, in combination with avehicle having steering mechanism and brake mechanism, a signallingplate having a plurality of signalling indicia thereon, a background forsaid plate adapted to normally camouflage the signalling indiciathereof, a movable curtain for each signalling indicia having acontrasting background adapted to sharply delineate the indicia. whendisposed behind the same, a semaphore coactingwith one of saidsignalling indicia, means controlled. by the steering mechanism of thevehicle for moving one of said curtains to behind its signalling indiciaand for throwing the coacting semaphore to signalling posit-ion, andmeans controlled by the brake mechanism for moving the other of saidcurtains to behind its signalling indicia.

2. In a vehicle signal of the character de scribed, in combination witha vehicle having steering mechanism and brake mechanism. a signallingplate having a plurality I other of said. curtains to ling indicia.

In a vehicle signal of the character described, a signalling platehaving signalling indicia provided thereon, a background. for said plateadapted to normally camouflage the signalling indicia, a movable curtainhavin a contrasting background adapted to sharply delineate thesignalling indicia when disposed behind the same as a background, andmeans controlled by the steering mechanism of the vehicle for movingsaid curtain to behind the indicia.

4:. In a vehicle signal of the character de scribed a signalling platehaving signalling indicia provided thereon, a background for said plateadapted to normally camouflage the signalling indicia, a movable curtainhaving a contrasting background for a signalling indicia and adapted tosharply delineate the indicia when disposed behind the same as abackground.

5. In a vehicle signal or" the character dcscribed, signalling indie-la,a background adapted to normally camouflage the indicia, and a curtainhaving a contrasting backbehind its signal.-

ground for the signalling indicia adapted to sharply delineate the samewhen disposed therebeliind, said curtain and said signalling indiciabeing-relatively movable. V

6. In a vehicle signal ot the character described, in combination with avehicle having steering mechanism and brake mechanism, a casing, aspindle rotatably mounted in said casing, a semaphore carried by saidspindle, and means controlled by the steer ing mechanism for rotatingsaid spindle including a double reel carried by the steering post of thesteering mechanism, a spool carried by the rotatable spindle, andconnecting elements having their ends oppositely wound upon the spool.and upon the double reel respectively.

7. In a vehicle signal of the character described, the combination witha vehicle having brake mechanism, a signal plate having signallingindicia thereon, a background for said plate adapted to normallycai'uou'flage the signalling ineicia, a movable curtain having acontrasting background adapted. to sharply delineate the indicia whendisposed behind the same, and means controlled by the brake mechanism ofthe vehicle for moving said curtain to behind its indicia.

GEORGE FREDERICK MESSER. I

